The Child, Youth, and Community Tribunal has appointed Steve Melbourne MBE as its new President, succeeding Ashley Rawles, who has served for six years.
Mr Melbourne has been a Tribunal Member since 2020 and Deputy President since August 2023. He also works as an Inclusion Officer for the States of Guernsey.
Known in the community for his military background, he previously served as the Rugby Development Officer for the Guernsey Rugby Association. His contributions to the recovery and rehabilitation of long-term wounded, injured, and sick servicemen and women earned him his MBE in 2013.
Mr Melbourne expressed his enthusiasm for his new role, stating he is “honoured” and looks forward to leading the “committed volunteers” in their essential work;
“Ashley has provided exceptional leadership and dedication to this service, and I am honoured to follow in her footsteps.”
Mr Melbourne continued: “I am excited to lead our committed volunteers and support them as they continue the essential work of ensuring every decision is made with the best interests of the children and young people we serve at heart.”
Bolstering the number of volunteers
The Tribunal has also welcomed 10 new members, bringing the total to 37.
These volunteers have completed 55 hours of pre-service training, equipping them to make important decisions regarding children and young people needing protection, guidance, or support.
The Tribunal’s process begins when a young person is referred to the Office of the Children’s Convenor, following an investigation, if compulsory intervention is deemed necessary and the referral grounds are accepted by the child and family, a Tribunal Hearing is arranged.
These hearings involve a panel of three trained volunteer Tribunal Members, who assess presented facts and information to make legally binding decisions that prioritise the child’s best interests. This non-adversarial system aims to ensure children and young people’s views and experiences are central to every decision.
Tribunal Members commit to at least one hearing per month, typically two, and whilst their initial appointment is for three years, there is the potential for renewal based on performance.
